Q&A: The behind-the-scenes role as an athletics coach
Scott Cole's athletics journey started with wife Andrea spotting an ad for St Paul’s “give it a go day”. Now he's is a driving force behind the Athletics Southland Development Squad.
Scott Cole is a director and driving force behind the Athletics Southland Development Squad.
Its role is to support the region’s best-performing young athletes and their coaches.
Athletics, as with most sports, is a little like staging a dramatic play. The actors and director are up front and conspicuous. But behind the scenes are the lighting, technical, sound, costume and scenery people who make the production possible.
Scott has one of athletics’ behind-the-scenes roles, important but not up front and conspicuous as athletes and coaches are.
His athletics journey started with wife Andrea spotting an ad for St Paul’s “give it a go day”.
The entire family went along and all their kids became St Pauls members.
Summer family holidays for the following years become organized around junior competitions including the Colgate Games.
Both boys competed at junior level with Sam, staying involved to his final year of school.
In later years Jack and daughter Molly flagged athletics and concentrated on rugby/touch rugby/basketball and various dance disciplines and aerobics respectively. But Scott stayed involved.
“At the time our kids started there were huge St Paul’s junior numbers which the then coaches/parent helpers were obviously struggling to keep engaged at training. As a result, I was drawn into offering assistance,” he stated.
So, why does he still do it? We asked him.
What got your started?
I personally never competed in athletics but was initially drawn to helping at junior club nights when my kids started competing.
Briefly describe your philosophy as a volunteer coach and mentor.
Encouraging, guiding and being athlete focussed. I like to see athletes not to be afraid to explore options and try new things to reach their targets. I like those I’m mentoring taking ownership of their own development, realistically setting their own goals, and regularly reviewing their progress.
How long have you been involved with athletics?
I’ve been about and helping at club level for knocking on ten years or so.
What’s been a highlight or highlights?
I’ve really enjoyed being about, encouraging and witnessing some of our local now elite athletes progress from enthusiastic juniors to competent seniors.
Where do you see your involvement in a few years’ time?
Now being a shift worker in a new role my possible involvement coaching wise is limited in the immediate future but I still intend to help out where and when I can.
What’s your background, experience, and qualifications?
My professional background is as tradesman before working for over twenty years as a trades tutor at the local Tertiary Institute. More recently I’ve returned to the mechanical maintenance industry as crew leader at NZAS. As a result, I’ve obtained multiple trades, teaching, and leader qualifications.
Sports wise I competed in several team sports through to senior club level before coaching junior club and school sides in these sports.
Athletics wise I’ve served predominately as a junior club coach in doing so completing several locally and Athletics New Zealand run coaching courses.
What do you do when not coaching?
Walk the dog and keep my eye on various local, national, and international sports of various types.
Who has been an important influence?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have had multiple positive mentors both professionally and sporting wise over the years.
I struggle to signal out anyone of these individuals as being more influential than another as I believe every one of them has had something to offer and helped shaped my philosophies and principles. Local athletics wise I believe we are fortunate in that we have some really gifted senior coaches that are keen to share their knowledge and experiences.
What is the best part of coaching?
Watching young athletes grow in confidence that comes from working hard towards and meeting their personal goals.
I see multiple advantages that come from being part of a wider group of like-minded individuals when training, learning and preparing for competition. That’s one of the reasons why I’m happy to be involved in the development squad.
It’s been a real privilege working with these talented, hardworking, and inspirational young people.